A Unitree G1 is advertised at £13,000 on the manufacturer's website. By the time it arrives in Lyon or Marseille, you've actually paid between £17,500 and £18,500. Nobody explicitly tells you where the difference goes. Here's the complete breakdown, based on real 2026 international trade data.
1. Manufacturer price is just a starting point
Every manufacturer advertises an "ex-factory" price (FOB in customs jargon): that's the price of the robot before it leaves the country of origin. Three items get added before it rings at your door:
- International shipping (air or sea container + insurance): £400 to £2,000 depending on robot size.
- EU customs duties: 0 to 3.7% depending on country of origin (see below).
- French VAT: 20% on the total (price + transport + customs).
2. HS code 8479.89: the probable classification
Customs use a Harmonized System (HS) to categorise each product. Humanoids don't have a dedicated code — they're classified under HS 8479.89: "machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not specified elsewhere".
Why 8479.89 rather than 8479.50 ("industrial robots")? Because consumer humanoids aren't recognised as "industrial robots" in the strict customs sense (which covers articulated arms in automotive factories). But this classification remains an estimate until a freight forwarder officially confirms it with French customs administration.
3. Customs duty rates by country of origin
| Country | EU customs duty rate | Robots concerned |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 0% | Tesla Optimus, Figure 02, Apptronik Apollo, Boston Dynamics Spot/Atlas, Agility Digit |
| China | 3.7% | Unitree G1, Unitree H1, Fourier GR-1 |
| Norway (EEA) | 0% | 1X NEO |
| Canada (CETA) | 0% | Sanctuary Phoenix |
The 0% rate for US-origin robots is based on a current EU-US trade agreement on advanced mechanical machinery. This rate may evolve depending on geopolitical context — keep an eye on tariff news if you buy at scale.
4. Concrete example: a Unitree G1 delivered to Paris
Let's take a Unitree G1 sold at £13,000 ex-factory (Hangzhou, China). Here's the final invoice breakdown:
| Item | Amount | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-factory (FOB China) | £13,000 | Unitree list price |
| Sea transport + insurance | + £650 | Shared container estimate |
| Customs duties (3.7%) | + £505 | 3.7% × (13,000 + 650) |
| Sub-total before VAT | £14,155 | |
| French VAT 20% | + £2,831 | 20% × 14,155 |
| Total invoice in Paris | ~£17,500 |
That's a +35% premium over the advertised price. Exactly the kind of information one would have liked to know before buying — and which nobody clearly provides on the market today.
5. CE marking: the hurdle people forget
In theory, any robot sold to a consumer in the EU must carry the CE marking (European Conformity), certifying compliance with the Machinery, Electromagnetic Compatibility and Radio directives. In practice, in 2026:
- Marking obtained: Boston Dynamics Spot (atypical case, already mature).
- Marking in progress: Unitree G1, Unitree H1, Fourier GR-1, 1X NEO.
- Unknown / unconfirmed: Figure 02, Tesla Optimus, Sanctuary Phoenix, Apptronik Apollo, Agility Digit (all B2B-oriented today).
Buying a non-CE marked robot as an individual is legally grey. Customs can block the parcel at entry, and in case of accident insurance may refuse coverage. For educational or R&D use (universities, engineering schools), tolerance is wider but not unlimited.
6. Our practical advice before buying
- Request a "delivered to your address" quote from the manufacturer or its EU reseller before signing. Reject "ex-factory" pricing as final reference.
- Use a freight forwarder for non-EU imports. Cost: £150 to £500 depending on service, but they secure customs classification and handle paperwork.
- Check CE marking before purchase. It's your safety net. If "in_progress", request the projected date in writing.
- Keep all invoices (manufacturer, transport, customs, VAT): useful for accounting depreciation if professional use, and for resale.
- Consider leasing: most contracts include delivered pricing and support, avoiding surprises. Marginal extra cost but simpler management.
Why Botoide shows these numbers
We've been saying it around us from the start: manufacturer pricing is misleading for European buyers. That's why every robot page in the Botoide comparator now displays a dedicated "Availability & real cost in France" block, with an estimate of the delivered price, the applicable customs rate and CE marking status. It's imperfect — all these numbers evolve — but it's more honest than letting a potential buyer discover the premium when the parcel arrives.
Our goal: make Botoide the only site where you'll know how much the robot you're looking at will really cost. No nasty surprises at delivery.